our motto: "whatever it takes!"

Insights, hints, tips, and resources for service and support professionals, given in the spirit of sharing information.

In this Issue:

-- Exclusive offer to attend HDP 2006

-- Sharing - Smaller learning environments are more conducive for educational value

-- Resources - Leading Less Than Highly Motivated Support Organizations

-- Job Openings at High Tech High Touch Solutions

-- Subscription Information

 

"SAVE NOW BY ACCEPTING OUR EXCLUSIVE OFFER TO ATTEND HDP 2006!"

SHARING (top)

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

There was a documentary on television this week about how much more effective learning is in our school systems when there are fewer students in a school and in the classroom.  Bill and Melinda Gates, along with Warren Buffet are working to make it possible for classes to become smaller so the learning capacity of students will increase by creating these tighter units of educational opportunities.

My goal has always been aligned around this proven philosophy that small, high quality educational and interactive opportunities are worth a lot more than attending large events. In large venues you spend your valuable time getting back to your hotel room or breakout session room, and rarely run into the same person twice.  You often do not have the chance to ask questions and speakers don't always have the time to have one-on-one exchanges or small group discussions with you at the larger venues. 

I get the most out of these personal, intimate events, where by the time you leave, you have met 40% or more of the other people who were there. Attending smaller venues like local user groups or intimate conferences and summits is where you will really get the most educational and networking opportunities.  Bill and Melinda's findings are testimonial to this truth proven by making schools smaller here in Seattle, testing the students, and seeing incredible results in their scores.  Truly, we can all benefit from learning in smaller more intimate settings.

I have purposefully designed the Help Desk Professionals Conference and Expo to be an exclusive event for only 350 people; leaders in the Help Desk Industry or those aspiring to become leaders.  Those already registered did so without even seeing a program yet.  One person said, "Ivy always delivers.  I know I won't be disappointed.  I'm signing up for the pre-conference sessions too. I don't know what they will be about, but I know they will be good!"

Furthermore, those of you who know me, understand I love a personal challenge to do things outside of the norm. When someone tells me, "It's never been done like that," I'm even more inclined to break the so-called way of doing something.

When I told them I wasn't going to print proceeding binders nor hand out big bags of stuff to pack around all day, other conference providers told me I was nuts. They said it has always been done this way, and the loudest message was, "it just won't work!"  Funny, when we got the surveys back, we had only one person out of 200 say they would have liked slides for a handout. The rest said how much they loved having everything on a reusable Flash Drive and how nice it was not to have a bunch of stuff to lug around.

We're busy buttoning up the final details for the 8th Annual Help Desk Conference and Expo for the best one yet with new components added to the program.  Every year for the past seven years, I've tried something entirely out of the ordinary to deliver our HDP event with incredible results.  So, I'm going to stir up the pot again this year and try even more new things.

It shouldn't surprise you to find that our upcoming Help Desk Professionals Conference and Expo is filling up fast!  Attendees, sponsors, speakers, and friends are contacting us daily about the event.  We have loads of Alumni returning because they know it won't be the same ole' thing and they will leave loaded up with new solutions to address the immediate needs of their business. 

With all these calls coming in about the event and the feedback from the previous surveys, we are finding a common denominator - people are hungry for the soft skills training delivered by experts and want tons of leadership training.  Tools and technology are still interesting, particularly VoIP, as is industry best practices and proven processes like ITIL and Six Sigma, but the real interest right now is focused on the people more than ever before. 

Knowing these topics are going to meet your primary needs, we incorporated them into our program to guarantee you will get the most benefit by coming to San Antonio with us. You will be absolutely elated when you see what we have prepared just for you.  You can see the program at www.helpdeskconference.com.

Our incredible board is pulling things together from all the outstanding ideas generated from their brainstorming sessions.  See the elite board listed on the left. They are the ones that are ultimately sculpting the conference.  This really is the people's conference built for the people by the people in the industry. 

As to your lodgings, we have some incredible room rates held for you at the hotel. The hotel is sold out except for these super reduced rooms.  The bad news those are going fast.  If you are going to join us in San Antonio, it would be a good idea to get your rooms reserved ASAP.  When they are gone, the only options are other hotels in the area.  Its so much more effective if we can be together to facilitate the best networking.

Do you want to make an impact on your business and demonstrate your pride and ownership in the organization, offering the best possible service at the lowest most reasonable cost? Then join us in San Antonio to hear from our speakers as they deliver high quality, content rich presentations, give you  handouts, templates, and loads of resources.

As with all of our events, we offer a full repayment of your conference investment after you attend all three days of the event if you are not satisfied, excluding pre-conference sessions and certification courses.

Can we sign you up now?  I would love to have you as one of our exclusive 350 people at this once a year event, the Help Desk event unlike any others in the industry.

Sincerely,

Ivy Meadors
High Tech High Touch Solutions

www.ivymeadors.com

425-398-9292

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